Mass popularity: Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan ( born 27 December 1965) , [3] credited as Salman Khan ( pronunciation: [s?l’ma?n ’xa?n]) , is an Indian film actor, producer, television personality, singer and philanthropist. In a film career spanning more than twenty five years, Khan has received numerous awards, including two National Film Awards as a producer, and two Filmfare Awards as an actor. Described by the CNN as one of the world’s biggest stars, [4] he has a significant following in Asia and the Indian diaspora worldwide, and is cited in the media as one of the most popular and commercially successful actors of Indian cinema.[5][6]
The son of screenwriter Salim, Khan began his acting career with a supporting role in Biwi Ho To Aisi ( 1988) and achieved breakthrough with a leading role in his next release—Sooraj Barjatya’s romance Maine Pyar Kiya ( 1989) . Khan went on to establish himself in Bollywood in the 1990s with roles in several top-grossing productions, including the romantic drama Hum Aapke Hain Koun.! ( 1994) , the action thriller Karan Arjun ( 1995) , the comedy Biwi No.1 ( 1999) , and the family drama Hum Saath-Saath Hain ( 1999) . For his role in Karan Johar’s romantic drama Kuch Kuch Hota Hai ( 1998) , Khan was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor. After a brief period of decline in the 2000s, Khan achieved greater stardom in the 2010s by playing the lead role in several successful action films, including Dabangg ( 2010) , Bodyguard ( 2011) , Ek Tha Tiger ( 2012) , Kick ( 2014) , Bajrangi Bhaijaan ( 2015) and Sultan ( 2016) all rank among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. Ten of the films in which Khan has acted in have accumulated gross earnings of over ₹1 billion ( US$15 million) .[7][8][9][10] He is the only actor to star in the highest-grossing Bollywood films of nine separate years.[11] Khan topped Forbes India charts for 2014, in terms of both fame and revenues.[12] According to the Forbes 2015 list of ’Celebrity 100 : The World’s Top-Paid Entertainers 2015’, Khan was the highest ranked Indian in 71st rank with earnings of $33.5 million.[13]
In addition to his acting career, Khan is a stage performer and an active humanitarian through his charity non-profit organisation, Being Human.[14] Khan’s off-screen life is marred by controversy and legal troubles. His tumultuous relationship with Aishwarya Rai, his hunting of endangered species, and a negligent driving case in which he ran over five people with his car, killing one, have been extensively covered by the Indian media.[15] For the last of these, Khan was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in 2015, but was later acquitted.
Personality: Khan is the eldest son of screenwriter Salim Khan and his first wife Sushila Charak ( later adopted the name Salma Khan) . His paternal ancestors were Pathan[19][20][21][22] from present-day Afghanistan[23] who immigrated to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Khan’s mother is a Maharashtrian, [24] whose father Baldev Singh Charak comes from Jammu-Kashmir[25] and mother comes from Maharashtra.[23][26] Khan’s stepmother is Helen, a former actress. He has two brothers, Arbaaz Khan who is married to actress and VJ Malaika Arora Khan, and Sohail Khan; and two sisters, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, who is married to actor/director Atul Agnihotri and an adopted sister Arpita.[27]
Salman finished his schooling at St. Stanislaus High School in Bandra, Mumbai, as did his younger brothers Arbaaz and Sohail. Earlier, he studied at The Scindia School, Gwalior for a few years along with younger brother Arbaaz.[28] He attended St.Xavier’s College in Mumbai and dropped out.
Performance: In 2000, Khan acted in films including Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, which addressed the issue of surrogate childbirth; Khan played the role of a rich industrialist, who hires a surrogate mother after his wife becomes infertile. Critics noted his turn towards a more serious role, which reportedly had more substance in comparison to his previous roles.[51][52] In 2002 he starred in the delayed release Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam.
For Tere Naam, ( 2003) Taran Adarsh said of him, Salman Khan is exceptional in a role that fits him to the T. He breathes fire in sequences that demand uneasiness. But beneath the tough exterior lies a vulnerable person and this facet in particular comes to the fore in the latter reels. His emotional outbursts are splendid.[53] Tere Naam is to date considered Salman Khan’s best film with critically acclaimed performance.[54][55] He subsequently continued his success at the box office, with comedies like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi ( 2004) and No Entry ( 2005) .[36] Khan’s work in 2006 included Jaan-E-Mann and Baabul, however neither of these films were successful in the box office.
Khan started 2007 with the ensemble film Salaam E Ishq. His next release Partner performed well at the box office.[56] He next appeared in the Hollywood movie, Marigold: An Adventure in India which told the love story of an Indian man and an American woman. Khan starred in three films throughout 2008, all of which underperformed.[57]
Khan hosted the second season of 10 Ka Dum in year 2009 which turned out to be even more successful than his first season as host of the game show in year 2008. The show got very high TRPs for Sony Entertainment Television and according to reports, the show helped Sony TV regain its third position in the Indian television ratings.[58]
2009–present: commercial success
2009 marked a significant turning point in Khan’s career. Starting with Wanted, directed by choreographer turned director Prabhu Deva became a box office success and earned superhit status.[59] In the same year, he appeared in two other films, Main Aurr Mrs Khanna and London Dreams. London Dreams did average business due to the uninspiring music, but Main Aurr Mrs Khanna was a commercial failure. Khan’s first release of 2010 was Anil Sharma’s commercially and critically unsuccessful film Veer.
Khan in 2011
His next release, Dabangg was released on Eid, 10 September 2010. Khan played the role of a fearless cop with comic effect in the film. It opened to generally positive reviews and broke several box-office records upon release. The film set another box office record, grossing ₹808.7 million in its first week, thus becoming the highest opening week grossing Bollywood film, overtaking the previous record of 3 Idiots. Dabangg went on to gross ₹2.15 billion worldwide. It is the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2010 and, as of 2012, the fourth highest–grossing Bollywood film of all time.[60] Dabangg went on to win several awards, including the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. It was later remade in Tamil and Telugu, The film was produced by his brother Arbaaz Khan, and released on 10 September 2010. It made a record opening at the box office.[61][62] Dabangg at that time was the second and now the fourth highest-grossing Bollywood film and for his performance, Khan received a Star Screen Award for Best Actor and a Stardust Award for Star of the Year – Male and was nominated for his sixth Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Anupama Chopra from NDTV wrote about his performance, It’s the role of a lifetime and Salman Khan bites into it like a starving man devours a feast. He inhabits it fully, strutting and swaggering and even, spoofing himself.[63]
Khan’s first release of 2011 was Ready. Upon release, Ready became the second highest opening day grosser, as well as the second highest weekend grossing Bollywood film at that time, after Dabangg.